$BTC

**BTC** is the first and most valuable **cryptocurrency**, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous **Satoshi Nakamoto**. It introduced **blockchain technology** — a decentralized, public ledger secured by **proof-of-work (PoW)** mining.

Bitcoin aims to be **digital cash** and a **store of value** ("digital gold"), operating without central banks or intermediaries. Its supply is capped at **21 million coins**, creating scarcity. Transactions are peer-to-peer, pseudonymous, and irreversible.

As the **OG cryptocurrency**, BTC dominates the market (often 40–50% of total crypto value). It’s widely traded, held as an investment, and increasingly integrated into traditional finance via ETFs and institutional adoption.